To be honest, we came across this place completely by accident. I wanted to get away for one night to just de-stress and relax. I knew I didn't want to drive as far as Atlantic City where I usually go, but wanted to be near the ocean. I immediately thought Asbury Park, one of my favorite places; quiet, low key, with several great restaurants. There is a hotel there that is pretty much brand new, The Berkeley Oceanfront. I knew I wanted to book there. When I logged on to book the room they had a special for an overnight package with a dinner from The Dauphin Grille. I couldn't pass it up!
Honestly, my expectations weren't high. The package I had paid for was dirt cheap, and included dinner at the Dauphin, and a suite for the night. "Too good to be true," I thought, but I'm glad I took the chance. It ended up being an awesome evening.
The Dauphin Grille is very sophisticated looking, with dark woods lining a candlelit lounge. The dining room was open and classy, with unique chandeliers and artwork. We were surprised that our complimentary dinner was actually a full 3 course dinner for two, with a complimentary bottle of wine! With all of this and the amazing price, I assumed the courses would be small. Boy, was I wrong. I was shocked to see that each course was a full-sized, large portion.
For an appetizer, my guest had their house salad with fruit, walnuts, and cheese. It was enough for 2 people easily. I had the duck eggroll with sweet potato. Basically, it was a homemade eggroll with duck breast layered inside with fresh sliced veggies. Drizzled over the top was a spicy sweet and sour sauce which complimented the dish. The only thing that threw me off was the diced sweet potatoes on top. It tasted great, but I didn't really understand that...
For an entree my guest had a hanger steak with the best fingerling potatoes either of us had ever had. I had the seared chicken, which came with asiago mashed and broccoli rabe. Let me tell you, that was also the best broccoli rabe I have ever had. It was actually sweet and garlicy; not bitter at all. For desert we feasted on mini cheesecake bonbons and a chocolate chip cookie sundae.
CONCLUSION:
The bill was one of the best parts; there was none. It was all included when we booked the room. All we had to do was tip our server, who by the way was very friendly and attentive. We truly had a relaxing, gourmet dinner for an amazing price. I would definitely return, even if I had to pay full price. If you want a relaxing getaway, or just dinner, definitely check out the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel and the Dauphin Grille. Just bear in mind though, Asbury Park is recently being reborn. The hotel and restaurants are doing a great job.
QUICK REVIEW:
Price: Burger = $15, Other Dinners = $25+
Dress: Trendy Casual/Dressy
Reservations: Recommended; opentable.com
Parking: Off-street and meter parking nearby
Must Order: Everything we had was great.
FYI: The owner of Dauphin also owns Trinity and the Pope, Langosta Lounge, and Pop's Garage, which are all nearby.
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